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Sudanese foot soldiers never walk alone

Agence France-Presse

Posted at 09/17/2012 6:29 PM

JOHANNESBURG - About 100 supporters of leading Sudanese football club Al Merreikh braved searing heat and uneven road surfaces to demonstrate their love for the team by walking 150 kilometres to see them play.

'Red Castle' fans gave new meaning to the legendary Liverpool anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone" by shunning buses, taxis and cars and walking 150 km from capital Khartoum to northern town Shandy for an African club fixture.

Many arrived in Shandy footsore and weary after a walk that started Saturday, but it proved worthwhile as Merreikh beat local club Al Ahly 1-0 to book a CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals place.

Merreikh are the only Sudanese club to have won a Pan-African competition, lifting the now defunct African Cup Winners Cup in 1989, and are joint favourites with Omdurman neighbours Al Hilal to win the Confederation Cup.